Listening to the Voices in My Head

I have used three different programs to compile timelapse sequences

1: Adobe Premiere CS6

2 LRTimelapse to use with Adobe LightRoom

3 Panolapse by Patrick Shyu

The first time I ever compiled a series of images was with Premiere. I did this after editing the images in Photoshop CS6 E. It was a bit confusing at first, but once I got the hang of it, the process was fairly smooth and the end result was good. Select sequence, and Premiere will export the video. Drawbacks: You have to own CS6 (or CC now) Photoshop and Premiere. You can use other photo editors to edit your CR2/NEF/ORF/RAW files, though, but you would still need to own or rent Premiere.

LRTimelapse is a program to use with Lightroom. You have to run them both at the same time. I found it more than a little fiddly. Edit images, import them, select all then click on Metadata in Light room, while in LRTimelapse you load the images, select the options you want. Go BACK to Lightroom, Select All images, click on EXPORT, select LRTimelapse plugin. It will then open a menu in LRTimelapse, click on RENDER VIDEO.

See what I mean by fiddly?

With the price take of 249 Euros for the full version and 99Euros for the low end version, it's a heftly price tag, especially along with having to have Lightroom, Standalone (if you were lucky enough to have gotten it) or Creative Cloud.

Panolapse 1.25. "Freemium" software. Edit your images, save as JPGs. Select images, click on deflicker, choose what format to export and let it go. It will sequence you photos numerically, then de-flicker, AND auto adjust brightness for changes of shutter speed and ISO.

The free version is limited to 1280x720 HD. The full version is $103AUD (it's on sale for 20% off right now.)

I just bought Panolapse.

Without having to convert everything to DNGs.

DXO Optics.

It has the most precise lens correction catalog of any program I have tried so far. Not only lens correction, but in relation to specific camera bodies. (caveat: I have a seriously outmoded Canon 17-35mm f/2.8 that was superseded 10+ years ago. BUT DXO Optics found a similar lens, the Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8 and the correction is spot on.)

After you do all your Camera RAW edits in DXO, you then can export the edited image as a high res/high quality JPG into photo editor of your choice (Tested export on Corel PSP 6, 7, 8,and 9x, Zoner Photo Studio 16, 17, 18 and 19, Photoshop CS 5, 6, CC,  Lightroom 5x, 6x, and Affinity for PC)

You can let DXO do it automatically, or you can customize your editing.

Before



After



But you don't have to wait until your photo editing software is outmoded before installing and using DXO, as the RAW editing is above and beyond with Adobe Camera Raw is capable of doing regardless of what version you're currently using.

Pricing.. well, it's less than what it costs to 'Rent' Adobe Photoshop Creative cloud for the year. There are two versions. Essential Edition, and Elite Edition. And, you can try before you buy

Because Wing misunderstood, I feel I should clear this up, regarding On1 Photo Raw. (I'm using the Pre-Release, as I pre ordered. The 'real' version will be out soon)

Even though you can do many edits/adjustments/processing with On1 Raw, you will want to use (still need to use) a photo editor. What On1 Raw allows you to do is use other versions of editing software. Example, Adobe Photoshop.

You can do all you processing/adjustments/On1 Plugins in On1 Raw, then punt the processed JPG into earlier version of Photoshop. No more will you get the dreaded "Camera Raw Not supported" message.



You can now edit the images with all the RAW editing power of ACR and much more, and then finish it in the photo editor of your choice.




I tried sending them directly to Nik plugins via On1 Raw, but it Nik can't save the changes so you need to use Photoshop or other program.

I have sent On1 Raw edited image to Photoshop CS5, CS6, CC 32 and 64bit versions to use Photoshop plugins like NIK or Alienskin.

Also sent images to Affinity for Windows, Corel PSP 6, 7, 8 and 9, and Zoner Photo Studio to finish edits testing other "Photoshop compatible" plugins. Some work, some don't.

Yes, there will a learning curve as there is using any new photo editing program. And Bonus, it works in earlier versions of Lightroom too. I have sent the On1 Photo Raw edited JPG into Lightroom 5x and 6x. No problem, so no need to 'subscribe' with Adobe to keep your photo raw editor up to date.

Imported to Lightroom 5x



Import as usual.




So, if you still have Photoshop CS2/3/4/5/6 (these are the ones I had to test), and earlier versions of Lightroom, and have a new camera that you get the PHOTOSHOP CANNOT OPEN THE FILE and don't want to have to double up on storage space by having to use a DNG converter, or having to rent Photoshop, this is for you. Or if you want a Raw editor that is above and beyond Adobe Camera raw in functionality and editing power.

As it's still the pre-release, I haven't tested if or how it does panoramas, yet, but you can apply On1 Raw adjustments over a group of photos you want to make into a panorama.

No longer will you be saddled with Adobe Camera Raw popup telling your version of Photoshop that the file format is unknown.

To use it as a plugin for photoshop you do need version C6 and above.

That being typed, make sure you already have your earlier version of photoshop up and running CS5 (which I did) then On1 Raw 2017 stand alone, do all your edits/adjustments in On1, right click on image and "Send to Photoshop" and it will open as a 16bit PSD with all your edits and adjustments. Not sure if this worked because I have CS6 and Trial CC installed. If so, leave the trial CC installed, and keep using CS5. :D Or just scroll down and select “Send to other application” and select your version of Photoshop, or other photo editing software.


This was just a quick On1 Raw edit, with some tweaks to dynamic contrast, and a bit of sky enhancing.



Remember, one of the biggest reasons people started ‘renting’ Creative Cloud was because of no Camera Raw support for new cameras except for CC. With On1Raw you don't have to worry about having to convert everything over to DNGs, doubling your storage needs (unless you delete the CR2/ORF/RAW etc etc files after converting)

I bought something from an online seller. Used item, CD. I didn't expect it to be pristine as it was a used CD, but it was listed as in "Very Good" condition.

It arrived quickly, and then I spotted the yellow Opened by Australia Post for inspection by Quarantine sticker on the front, and a PASSED one on the back where the package was resealed.

At first I thought it was just a random inspection. Then I opened it. I read the note about how it was flagged by canine inspection (aka sniffer dog) so they opened it. The item was dirty? (Whohuhwha..? How does one get a CD dirty enough to flag a sniffer dog? What was on it?).

Took out the CD, and my expectations dropped another notch. The CD case was cracked. Ok, that happens when sellers mail on the cheap, using padded envelopes. I have empty jewel cases just for stuff like this.

Then, I took the cd out. The playing surface was visibly scratched to the point I didn't know if it would play. Also, I saw what flagged the sniffer dog. It had something on the playing surface, spots of something that had been spilled on it. I checked what was left of the CD case, including the booklet and back. Nothing. So this wasn't grunge that happened during the trip, but before it was shipped.

So, I tell the seller about the condition. I get fed condescending platitudes and how *I* must be wrong, or have buyers remorse. At no time did I request a return or refund.

I left a 'fair' rating. Explained the scratches and spots, that the CD wasn't in very good condition, but in fair or maybe good.

So, what does seller do? Sends me a "woe is me, how could you do this to me?" sort of message, telling me I had buyers remorse and othersuch bullshit.

In short, I replied, telling her about the cracked case, the quarantine inspection caused by whatever foreign substance was on the CD and the quality of the CD not being what she claimed it was. And I included photos. Again, at no time did I request a return or refund.

I did, however, carefully clean the CD, put it in the DVD player and made a FLAC file with a cue sheet. Played it. I did hear a few flaws (slight crackle) during the playback. I stand by my assessment. Seller got a fair rating as the product wasn't as she described, it was mailed dirty, in a cheap padded envelope.

Buyers' remorse? No, but I think she had "Sellers' faux remorse because someone actually left honest comment."